ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team earned a 6-1 victory over Binghamton on Thursday afternoon at Boylan Tennis Center for its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season. With the win, NIU improves to 9-9 overall, 1-2 in MAC play.

The Huskies took the doubles point to claim an early lead, sweeping the only two matches to finish. Freshman Mikko Malinen (Malmo, Sweden) and sophomore Victor Spolidorio (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap) earned a 6-1 win over Kushaan Nath and Tiago Lourenco at number one while seniors Erich Schuette (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius) and Eric Marbach (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) recorded a 6-1 victory at number three over Inigo Saez and Dylan Friedman.

In the singles, the Huskies swept the five matches that finished in straight sets while Binghamton earned its lone win in three sets. Spolidorio dropped just two games win a 6-1, 6-1 win over Sebastian Quiros at number six.

Junior Shao-Yu Yu (Taipei, Taiwan/Jiang Guo High School) was victorious against Saez, 6-0, 6-4 at number five while freshman David Pata (Bucharest, Romania/Emil Racovita) also dropped just four games in a 6-2, 6-2 win against Nath at number two.

Marbach was a winner at number one, 6-2, 6-3, topping Ludovico Cestarollo while Malinen outlasted Alejandro Pena, 7-6, 7-6, at number four.

NIU will return to action on Friday, March 29, when the Huskies host Western Michigan.

NIU 6, Binghamton 1

Singles
1. Eric Marbach (NIU) def. Ludovico Cestarollo (Bing), 6-2, 6-3
2. David Pata (NIU) def. Kushaan Nath (Bing), 6-2, 6-2
3. Tiago Lourenco (Bing) def. Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU), 5-7, 6-4, 10-6
4. Mikko Malinen (NIU) def. Alejandro Pena (Bing), 7-6, 7-6
5. Shao-Yu Yu (NIU) def. Inigo Saez (Bing), 6-0, 6-4
6. Victor Spolidorio (NIU) def. Sebastian Quiros (Bing), 6-1, 6-1

Doubles
1. Mikko Malinen/Victor Spolidorio (NIU) def. Kushaan Nath/Tiago Lourenco (Bing), 6-1
2. Alejandro Pena/Ludovico Cestarollo (Bing) led David Pata/Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU), 5-3 unfinished
3. Erich Schuette/Eric Marbach (NIU) def. Inigo Saez/Dylan Friedman (Bing), 6-1